Web processing machine



July 28, 1936. PyPUT A 2,048,754

WEB PROCESS ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1932 Patented July 28, 1936 WEBPROCESSING MACHINE Charles P. Putnam, Lock Haven, Pa.

Application August 31, 1932, Serial No. 631,195

3 Claims.

This invention relates to web processing machines and has for its objectto provide a new and improved machine of this description. The inventionhas as a further object to provide means 5 for securing a uniformtension on the web of the roll being operated on. The invention hasother objects which are moreparticularly pointed out in the accompanyingdescription.

Referring now to the drawing, the figure is a ,0 view showing one formof device embodying the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification anddrawing.

In web processing machines the paper is wound [5 from one roll on toanother and the paper web must be \under tension, and this tensionshould be uniform. In apparatus heretofore used, for example, it hasbeen attempted to secure the proper tension on the web by applying abrake or friction, device to the shaft of the roll from which the web isbeing unwound. This braking device does not produce a uniform tension onthe web because, as the roll decreases in diameter, the speed of theshaft of the roll on which the brake acts increases, and this causes anon-uniform tension on the web. A uniform tension on the web isnecessary so that there will be no wrinkles in the paper as it is wound.It is further found that the minimum amount of tension necessary toeliminate wrinkles varies with the characteristics of the papermaterial, and also with the same paper/material the farther thewebholding device is away from the processing machine rolls. The speedof the web is also a factor in governing the amount of tension. It isalso undesirable to have any tension above the minimum tension requiredto prevent wrinkles. A varying tension also causes a slight sidemovement of the web which is undesirable. It is important to keep thetension on the web as small as possible so that there will be a minimumtendency to break the web. This also uses less power. a

The device here illustrated does produce a uniform tension on the web ofthe roll and also the minimum tension, and can secure furthermore thedesired adjustment required. In this device I have shown the rolls I, 2,and 3, for example, of the processing machine which process the paper.These rolls are rotatably supported. The web 4 running to the processrolls passes around a roll 5 which is in proximity to the roll I, andwhich does not change in diameter. This roll may be formed in anydesired manner to secure this result.

To secure the proper tension 9. series of belts are provided. Thesebelts pass around pulleys 8, 9, H), II, and I2, all of which may beidler pulleys except one, which is a driven pulley. In the particularconstruction illustrated the pulley I l is a driven pulley, and thepulleys are solocated in position that the belts engage the web 4 of thepaper as it passes around the roll 5. The pulley H is connected to theroll 5 by means of a gear l3 which engages a .gear 14 on the roll 5. 10

The pulley ll may be driven in any desired manner, but the mechanism issimplified by driving it from the constant diameter roll 5 through thegears H3 and I3. The belts are provided with means for securing thedesired tension thereon 15 so that the desired pressure will be appliedto the web of paper passing over the roll 5. In the construction shownthis is secured by providing the belts between the pulleys 8 and 9 withloops l5, the pulleys l2'being supported only by the loops of the belts,and then applying a weight it to these pulleys it. It will be .seen thatthese weights pull the belts taut and give them a uniform tension. Thebelts may be driven at desired speed but preferably at a speed somewhatslower than the speed of the web t. These belts, therefore, rub on theweb it as it passes over the constant diameter roll 5, applying at alltimes a uniform pressure and engaging at all times the same length ofthe web of paper. When so constructed there is no unsupported length ofweb between the tension device and the nip of the processing roll. Theweb is therefore drawn smoothly about the processing roll and enters thenip without wrinkles, and the friction required 35 to produce this istherefore at a minimum. "Breaks in the web are greatly reduced, becauseeven if the tension werethe same as it would be with a length ofunsupported web, the fact that the web is supported reduces thepossibility of breaks. Furthermore, since there are a plurality of beltsto produce the tension if the web breaks between the back stand andprocessing machine, the belts prevent folding over of the web where itis broken as would be the case when these belts are not 5 used. When theprocessing rolls are of a soft nature, this folding over of the web on abreak, marksv the soft rolls and these marks have to be removed beforethe processing machine can be used again.

This roll of constant diameter 5 may be used both as a processing rolland as the constant diameter roll to which the belts are applied inorder that the distance between the tension device and the processingmachine may be a The 55 constant diameter roll, however, may it desiredbe a roll in addition to the rolls 0! the p machine.

Ii. it is desired to have different speeds of the belts tor diil'erentwebs of paper, that is for webs of diiierent quality or make up, it isonly necessary to drive the pulley II at a diiierent speed. that is atthe speed required, and then maintain this speed uniform while this webis passing beneath the belts.

It has beeniound that this device has certain advantages, among whichmay be enumerated the fact that it decreases: liability of breaks in theweb, due to the fact that the tension is less, and that it preventsdamage to soft processing rolls in case there is a break between theback stand and the rolls. It sometimes happens that the'rolls areimperfect in that the web is weakened by being thinned or for otherreasons and it permits the use of web rolls which are imperfeet which itused with a device requiring tension in the unsupported web wouldrequire sufllcient tension to break the web where it is unsupported.That is to say, by means of applicant's device webrolls which areimperfect may still be properly wound, because the web is supported atthe point where the pressure is applied. If it were not thus supportedas in the present device the web would break. It also maintainsa-substantially uniform tension, regardless of the diameter of the webroll, and therefore no adjustments are necessary as the web rollunwinds.

In minimizing the breaks in the web the productions of the processingmachines are materially increased, both through reducing the timerequired for the web to pass through the machine, and also by enablingthe use of higher speeds. I

I claim: l. A web processing machine comprising processing rolls,'one orsaid processing rolls being of a. constant diameter and over-which theweb of paper passes, a plurality of belts engaging the web as it passesover said constant diameter roll,

said belt being continuous and each passing over Y a plurality ofpulleys, a driving connection between said roll of uniform diameter andone of the pulleys 01' said belts for driving said belts at a speedlower than the speed of the web which the ,belts engage, and means forapplying a uniform pressure of said belts upon said web at the pointwhere it contacts with the belts, whereby a constant tension is appliedto said web.

2. A web processing machine comprising a roll of constant diameter overwhichthe web being processed passes, a plurality-oi belts engaging theweb as it passes over said roll of constant diameter, means for drivingsaid belts at a speed slightly lower than the speed of the web which thebelts engage, and means for applying a constant pressure between thebelts and the web 01' paper, whereby a constant tension'is applied tosaid web.

3. A web processing machine comprising processing rolls, one of saidprocessing rolls being 0! a constant diameter and over which the web ofpaper passes, a plurality ofbelts engaging the web as it passes oversaid constant diameter roll,

to each 01' said belts being continuous and each passing over aplurality of pulleys, driving means for said belts for driving saidbelts at a speed lower than the speed of the web which the belts engageso that the belts move at a lower speed than the speed of the web, thebelts being looped between two of the pulleys, the loops being lo-'cated above the roll of constant diameter, pulleys in said loops aboutwhich the belts pass, and weights applied to said pulleys by means orwhich a constant pull is applied to the web passing over the roll ofconstant diameter and to a constant link of said web, whereby a constanttension is applied to said web.

CHARLES P. PUTNAM.

